Part 4
“Aman, I am
considering marriage,” ASR said, his voice expressionless.
Aman gasped,
the file dropping from his hand showering papers as it made it graceless way to
the carpeted floor of ASR’s office.
“I have to
visit the girl and her family to fix it,” ASR said with a frown, not sure about
the rituals and processes entailed. “The broker will arrange the meeting and I
may have to take an evening off.” He assumed the girl lived in Delhi.
“Yes, sir,”
Aman managed to say.
“We need to
speed up the delegation of duties. I don’t wish to continue working day and
night after marriage. Fix the interviews for key positions next week.”
“Yes, sir.”
Aman thanked God from the bottom of his heart. Now he could finally go to bed
at a reasonable hour and get rid of the bags under his eyes.
***
“Sasiji, hum
Chandu Lal bol rahe hein!” the broker screamed into his phone for the fifth
time.
“Kaun, Nandkisore?”
buaji asked. The landline was faulty and at times, swallowed words.
“Chandu Lal,
broker Chandu Lal!” the hapless man repeated.
“Chandu Lalji?”
buaji asked, finally managing to get the name.
“Ji,” the
man heaved a sigh of relief, feeling droplets of sweat trail down his neck. A
climb to the Himalayas must be easier than communicating on a phone that
refused to do its job, he mused. Sasiji’s mobile was in a shop being repaired
and he couldn’t wait until it was ready to communicate such exciting news. “Ladka
aa raha he, Madhumatiji, to see your niece, Khussi. When shall we receive him? They
need a date.”
“Kaa?” buaji
asked, a frown on her face. She had heard only one word in the whole conversation. “Date? Kaahe ki date?”
“To see the
girl,” he spoke as loudly as he could but it was in vain. Madhumati could hear nothing. "Madhumatiji!" he screeched. Passersby turned to look at him with
wide eyes. He turned away from them.
“Chandu
Lalji? Kaahe phone kiye rahe to know today’s date, Nandkisore?” buaji asked.
Chandu Lal
and buaji continued their conversation in this spirit till buaji slammed the
phone down after explaining to the broker at length that her phone was faulty,
more than half of which Chandu Lal couldn’t hear.
The broker
pulled his hair with both hands in frustration. A prospective groom was ready to meet Khussi,
the tomboy of Lucknow. Rich, educated, aristocratic, the boy was better than
any damad Sasiji could dream of. And the commission that Chandu Lal himself
would receive if the shaadi took place would keep his family well-fed for one
full year. The Raizadas had to meet the Guptas. He decided to take matters into
his own hands and fix a date. He also needed to inform the Raizadas about Khussi's past as Sasi had instructed him to.
***
“Chotey, the
broker has fixed the date for Wednesday at 5 pm.” Nani was beaming.
Arnav
nodded, trying to maintain his wooden expression.
Nani
hesitated for a moment and then said, “We have to travel to...Lucknow to see
her, Chotey.”
Arnav
stilled, his eyes widening. “Lucknow?” he asked hoarsely.
Nani nodded,
feeling acute regret that his future was tied to the past he was trying to
leave behind. But maybe this was the way to heal him. Trying to forget the past
hadn’t helped. Maybe it was time to face nightmares, shine the torch at them,
and watch them vanish in the mist.
ASR clenched
his jaw and ground his teeth. He didn’t want to visit Lucknow. He didn’t want a
wife from Lucknow. The cursed city could self-combust and he wouldn’t feel a
thing. He parted his lips to refuse, but the image of the girl flashed through
his mind. The innocent laughter in her eyes, the naughty curve of her lips....He
swallowed hard.
“How long
will we run away from a place?” nani asked, her tone betraying her exhaustion.
“Lucknow didn’t destroy us, Chotey. People did. Our people.”
He lowered
his head, hiding the emotions and pain churning in his heart.
“Chotey,
I...I was hoping to...not speak of these things until we reached Lucknow,
but...Chotey, it is better you know everything before we set out. Khushi...the
girl you liked...she is an orphan.” Nani’s voice died away.
Arnav’s eyes
flew open. His mind abandoned its preoccupation with his past, its tragedies,
his pain, his disillusionment, and the hard road his life had been to focus on
another person. “What?” he asked, his voice a mere thread.
Nani nodded,
her eyes filled with remembered pain.
“Her
parents?” he managed to ask.
“Died when
she was ten,” nani informed him. “An accident.”
“Both of
them?” he asked incredulously on her behalf. It seemed almost bad manners on
their part to die at the same time and leave a ten-year-old an orphan. How dare
they!
Nani nodded.
“Her mother’s sister took her in. Her husband was kind enough to open his house
to the child. She calls them her parents now. Chotey, the broker informed me
that her family was insistent that all prospective grooms be told the truth
before they set out to see her.”
An orphan!
Alone, helpless, vulnerable. Something curled up and died within him at the
very thought.
“And her
father is a halwai. He comes from a family of halwais.” Nani hesitated. “They
are not very well off. Financially, they are no match for you. I know you picked
her photo, Chotey, but if you want to change your mind...”
The
protective, responsible, hurt part of him urged him to take her, Khushi, under
his wing, shelter her, shoulder her responsibilities, wrap her in cotton wool,
cocoon her from any potential threat, remove all thorns in her path, lavish his
money on her, treasure her...He had to go to Lucknow to meet her. There was no
way he could disappoint a child whose life had already dealt her a bad hand. He
had to overcome his distaste for the city and meet her. There was no choice.
“I will make
the travel arrangements,” Arnav stated before leaving the room.
Nani stared
after him, unable to believe that her Chotey was willing to let his past be and
travel to Lucknow, the scene of his worst life experiences and accept a poor girl
who had a painful past.
“What did
Chotey say, nani?” Anjali whispered in nani’s ear.
“He agreed.”
Mami
clutched her heart, her painted eyes as wide as they could go. “Ijj that our
Arnav bitwaa? Ready to marry a poor girlwaa phrom Lucknow? Has a bhoothwaa
entered his body?” she asked, fluttering her eye lashes.
“Why did he
agree, nani?” Anjali asked in wonder.
“I don’t
know, Anjali bitiya,” nani said softly. “I am too thankful for this miracle to
question it.”
***
It was two days
later that buaji remembered to inform Sasi that Chandu Lal had called.
“Chandu Lal,
the broker?” Sasi asked, lowering the teacup.
“On the phone that doesn't work, jiji?” Garima asked.
“Yes,
Nandkisore,” buaji sighed. “The whole world knows that our phone is not
working, lekin pata naahi kyon they insist on calling us.” She popped a laddoo
in her mouth and chewed it reflectively.
“Why should he
call us?” Sasi wondered. His face cleared. “Maybe he has found a dulha for
Payaliya. I have his number. I will call him from Mohan’s shop.”
***
Chandu Lal
was riding his scooter, battling the traffic of Delhi by sitting on the horn
and shouting obscenities at drivers who flouted the rules, when his phone rang.
With great difficulty and daring, he managed to manoeuvre the vehicle to the
side of the road and park it.
He pulled out
the phone.
The call was
from an unknown number.
“Helloooo,”
he said.
“Chandu
Lalji, it is me, Sasi Gupta.”
“God is kind that he made you call me. I tried to inform your sister that a boy is
coming from Delhi to see her niece at 5pm on Wednesday,” the broker said gleefully.
Sasi almost
dropped the phone.
“Wednesday?
This Wednesday? As in the day after tomorrow?” he asked, his voice high-pitched
in shock.
“Yes. Get ready
to marry off your bitiya to a handsome prince from Delhi, Sasiji. Good family.
Aristocratic in fact. You know about the Raizadas and the Malliks, I am
certain. The boy is Arnav Singh Raizada, Ratna Raizada’s only son. He took his
mother’s surname. He is Arvind Mallik’s son and is a big businessman in Delhi.”
Without waiting for Sasi to get over the shock, the broker continued. “You know
the scandal. His parents committed suicide at Sheesh Mahal. What is the use of
blaming children for the deeds of their parents? I know you are a wise man and
won’t give any importance to the past. Sasiji, the family asked me to inform
you about the double suicide. That’s why I mentioned it. Anyway, when you meet
the boy and his family, you will forget his past. Your bitiya will live like a
rani in his house.”
Sasi gulped.
“Handsome,
well-behaved, educated, rich—he is a catch,” the broker continued.
“Why does he
want a girl from an ordinary family then?” Sasi asked, perplexed. “If he is the
reservoir of all virtues as you have made him out to be, then he can marry from
the wealthiest family in the country.”
“Your bitiya
is lucky. He liked her photo out of the many I sent to his nani.”
“But...”
“Shaadi he,
Sasiji. Sab kuch uparwale ke haath mein he. I am only a broker. Don’t refuse the
good fortune that has come to your family. Get ready to receive him and his
family on Wednesday at 5pm. I will be there at about 4.30. Aap chinta na
karein.”
Sasi leaned
against the door of the phone booth, unable to even list the thousands of things
he needed to ready before Wednesday in his mind.
A car honked
behind Chandu Lal’s scooter.
“Hum chalte
hein,” he told Sasi before cutting the call. “Tanik thehro,” he told the driver
of the car who honked again. “The road doesn’t belong to your dadi.”
***
Finally update, yayyyyyyy! I was so waiting for this... OMG the opening was hilarious, ASR telling Aman about not wanting to work day and night after marriage and Aman thinks, now I can sleep LOL! That is like classic... Then Chandu Lalji and Buaji conversation though I think a big miscommunication happened already... Chandu told about the rishta being for Khushi but when Sashi called he hadn't mentioned that, so now what if the Gupta family thinks the rishta is for Payal while Raizada family comes to see Khushi... I hope the correct bride reaches the right groom. It's so cute that Arnav wanted to wrap his Khushi in cotton-wool and protect her, awww I just can't wait for them to meet...
ReplyDeleteWaiting for Arnav visiting Lucknow and meeting his Khushi... update nex chapter soooooooooon!!
ReplyDeletehe is coming to see khushi but they are gping to make him meet payal.....
Alert ! Alert !
Save everyone from ASR ghussa oops i mean gussa.
Loved the chapter. Arnav eager to meet Khushi but the Guptas think it's for Payal, misunderstanding. Fireworks to come.
ReplyDeleteIt's Payal, not Khushi - what a thought
ReplyDeleteFraught with tension already - is the plot,
To keep us (Smitens) on our toes
Is the latest from Smitaji - Heart of a Rose.
A writer's mind is truly a treasure trove. How many different plots have you given us Smitaji. This one promises to a roller coaster. Love it.
I just finished reading 'An Inconvenient Desire'. - For the nth time.
ReplyDeleteI like how he was so nonchalant about the whole marriage thing with Aman - as if he’s discussing the weather?! Only ASR could do something of the sort. Poor Aman, he can finally sleep and get rid of the bags haha 😂
ReplyDeleteLucknow. The city of past nightmares. Guptas will get Payal ready when really ASR wants his rose. Is it going to be the case of Akash seeing Payal and wanting to marry her instead? To quote Salmaan Khan in Kuch Kuch Hota Hain “Confusion confusion!”
Let’s hope ASR’s ghussa doesn’t hit the roof with the misunderstanding that’s bound to be occurring now.
Thanks for the update. Hope you’re being safe and taking care 😘
Thanks for the update, there is sure going to be a lot of confusion and some hilarious moments I guess
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and funny...
ReplyDeleteWaiting for the prospective bride to meet her prospective groom...
Hope their first meeting will be full of "dhamaal" Khushi style...
I love your updates smita! They make my heart so happy. This chapter was hilarious. I could picture it exactly like a 90s bollywood love story - the marriage broker, the broken telephone, the confused msgs, the wrong prospective bride. It's perfect! I can't wait for the next chapter!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting di. Liked the story very much. Thank you for updating di. Waiting for the next chapter.
ReplyDeleteAwesome update Smitaji👌👌👌
ReplyDeleteArnav is going to lucknow for khushi's sake
Hope he gets his khushi-Happiness in lucknow
Please update soon
Wow an update.. Misunderstanding is on its way i think which will make it all the more cool.. we could get to see a jalli kushi doing badmashi to the supposedly her jiju.. hahahaha i want to visualize the scared cat ASR.. waiting for the trip already.
ReplyDeleteHi Smita....wow..wonderful update...ASR ready to wrap his rose safely but going to get a shock to see Payaliya as his bride...Manorama mami udar and Bhuaji idar ..getting ready for the Awesome story to proceed . Thanks Smita for giving us another gem...Be safe and take care
ReplyDeleteBeautiful but lagta he kuchh misunderstanding ho gai he... Well let's see...
ReplyDeleteWaiting eagerly for the next part.
It's good do I don't how this will turn out but eagerly waiting for new update..
ReplyDeleteWaiting for your update ..ur stories are very interesting
ReplyDeleteHi Smita, I was refreshing this page almost daily to see an update. Finally an update!!!
ReplyDeleteTwist in already twisted ASR's life, wonder what we are going to see next.
Eagerly waiting for your next update and hope you are staying safe
Hi Smitaji,
ReplyDeleteEagerly awaiting your next update.
Your control over language is impeccable.
And, wishing all a bery Happy 9th Anniversary.
Regards,
Anita Menon.
Hello maam
ReplyDeleteWaiting for an update
❤
I'm a new writer
Please do visit my blog - https://kroctales.com/
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAwesome story so far. Looking forward to next part
ReplyDeleteHI Hope all is well with you!!
ReplyDeleteHave been waiting for an update...
Stay safe....
Hi Smita di
ReplyDeleteI lost track of your stories
In india forums and first blog I tracked u but after that I lost I think
Di I. Need password for unlocking your other blog
Wat should I do
Plz reply
Sorry for the delay. Am sick. Hoping to post next part in a couple of days.
ReplyDeleteTake care of yourself. Hope you feel better soon.
DeleteLovely. Am loving the confusion. Looking forward to more
ReplyDeleteHow can i i follow u to get the updates .just came across ur Blog and totally fell in love with.
ReplyDeleteCan you help me with that.I want to follow your account.
ReplyDeleteHow to get notifications..??
ReplyDeleteHello Smitha,,Hope all is well in your world!!! Was wondering when you will post the next update... Have been stalking this blog...
ReplyDeleteStay safe and hope to read you soon....
Are you safe? Just drop in hi
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete